Rocky River lines up funding for major projects

View full sizeRocky River officials are welcoming news that the city is in line for some significant funding on several project.Barb Galbincea, NEOMG

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The city of Rocky River expects to get some help in completing two major projects: the more than $7 million sanitary and storm sewer replacement on Avalon Drive and a traffic and parking study on Detroit Road

The city also got word recently that the wastewater treatment plant -- which also serves Bay Village, Westlake and Fairview Park -- has qualified for more than $2.6 million in assistance to make capital improvements.

All the news about anticipated no-interest loans and grants was welcomed by Safety Service Director Mary Kay Costello, especially since Rocky River had to cut this year's budget after a proposed increase in the city income tax was narrowly defeated at the polls in November.

The Avalon Drive project will replace infrastructure that dates back to the 1920s, Costello said. The sewer project will be preceded this summer with an estimated $900,000 refurbishing of the waterlines on Avalon, paid for by the Cleveland Division of Water.

Next year, Costello said, the city hopes to open bids for the sewer work, which was recommended by the District One Public Works Integrating Committee for nearly $5 million in funding -- via a no-interest, 30-year loan -- from the state capital improvements program.

Rocky River will be required to contribute another $2 million to the nearly mile-long project, which is part of a continuing effort to address U.S. EPA mandates that the city ends sanitary overflows into Lake Erie and prevents basement flooding. The city sets aside a portion of its sewer bill collections for capital needs, Costello said. Right now about 30 percent of the money collected is earmarked for capital projects, but that percentage is adjusted as needed.

Originally, it appeared that the Avalon project would not make the committee's list for recommended funding, but it was moved up after Rocky River appealed and presented its case. Costello praised Mackay Engineering, the city's consulting engineers, for its help.

Rocky River also recently was notified that the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency had recommended the city for a $75,000 grant to conduct a traffic and parking study along Detroit Road, which would include a feasibility study involving the Marion Ramp, the elevated structure that connects Detroit to Lake Road/Clifton Boulevard. The city wants to explore whether the ramp is necessary for access or impedes development in the area, along with how feasible it would be to "re-purpose" the structure.

Costello said the entire study would cost about $93,000 and Rocky River intends to coordinate with neighboring Lakewood. The study area will stretch along Detroit from Wagar Road to West Clifton Boulevard -- perhaps including side streets such as Sloan Avenue and Wooster Road -- the ramp, and Lake Road from Linda Street onto Clifton Boulevard and West Clifton Boulevard.

She noted that Rocky River's master plan makes redeveloping the area around Detroit Road a priority. The federal money, which is part of the Transportation for Liveable Communities Initiative, would also be used to look at bicycle and pedestrian access in the study area.

Costello said Mayor Pam Bobst has been instrumental in pursuing grants and no-interest loans to propel the city forward. "It all builds into this really wonderful future," Costello said.

Capital improvement projects proposed by Jeff Harrington, superintendent of the wastewater treatment plan, also were recommended for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission. That would include a grant of about $1.4 million and about $1.2 million through a no-interest, 25-year loan.